Skip dinner and a movie with these unique date ideas!
Whilst there are plenty of romantic things to do in Seattle, when you’re just starting out as a couple it’s important to find things to do that’ll help you bond. What makes a perfect date idea? A shared experience that stimulates the conversation, an idea to get you excited about your impending relationship and something you’ll look back fondly on later in life, of course!
Lucky for our Seattle singles, there’s no shortage of those in the Emerald city. Without further ado, here’s our list of 7 great Seattle date ideas for new couples…
1. Pier 57
There’s no better way to get to know each other than letting your hair down a bit. Choose Seattle’s historic waterfront and take advantage of its family-friendly fun; nip into the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and seek out the silliest gift you can buy each other, then head to Pier 57 – one of the most surprising yet romantic things to do in Seattle.
There you can go up against each other on the amusements (be warned, the ticket collecting can get competitive VERY quickly) before grabbing a bite to eat – The Crab Pot offers simple but very good fare, and we’d recommend it. Round off the date with a ride on The Seattle Great Wheel – not least because of its old fashioned charm and fabulous views across Elliott Bay.
2. Henry Art Gallery
There’s no more romantic thing to do in Seattle than pick one of the city’s cultural institutes or museums and head there for an event or exhibition. A great way for new couples to bond, everyone’s a critic where art’s involved!
The Henry Art Gallery is a great choice, because the modern art it exhibits is the perfect thing to stimulate a conversation. Be warned though, modern art can be very divisive! If your date’s an art lover, don’t ask them “Yes, but what is it?” Failing a consensus, go hang out with the Troll of Fremont nearby – because, well, who doesn’t love him?
3. The Pink Door
Going through Pike Place Market’s Pink Door is a little like falling down the rabbit hole. Much more than a dining experience, locals and visitors are drawn to The Pink Door for its to-die-for Italian food, its outdoor seating that’s ideal for summertime and its entertainment – tasteful burlesque and trapeze are always on the menu. Go with high expectations and they’re almost certain to be met or exceeded. Reservations are a very good idea.
4. The EMP
Set inside Frank Gehry’s extraordinary building, the Experience Music Project is one of Seattle’s most popular museums with good reason. When you’re just starting to date, it’s a good opportunity to gauge each other’s taste in music and pop culture at large. And remember that The EMP is more than just a museum; you can also play music, shoot a music video and get hands on with instruments and turntables. Find some compatibility here and you could soon be making beautiful music together, as well as have someone to gig with for life.
Being in this popular, tourist-friendly part of town is handy for afterwards too… if you want to extend your date, why not take a look around the Chihuly Museum or take a ride on the Ducks of Seattle – depending on your level of cultural interest by that stage! Or you could just take the Monorail downtown to the next of our Seattle date ideas…
5. Sky View Observatory
Don’t get us wrong, we love the Space Needle. We mean no disrespect by picking the Sky View Observatory over its more famous cousin. Thing is, the Sky View Observatory is a bit less busy (better for a date) and you get to see a little more with the extra height you get from the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center.
The best part, of course, is the wonderful views – get a 360 degree panorama of the city and point out your homes and favorite places to each other. It’s a great way to start a conversation about your own personal experience of and life in the city. Plus you can get some great backdrops for pictures of the two of you to make memories that’ll last a lifetime. Snap happy with Mt Rainier, Elliott Bay and – you guessed it – the Space Needle. Can’t do that from the top of the Space Needle can you?
6. Can Can
Have you been to Can Can yet? This is one Seattle date venue that deserves its huge popularity, and what’s not to love? The Can Can has cocktails, cabaret and a turn-of-the-century Parisian theme that’s a huge hit with the punters, and keeps the regulars coming back again and again. If you have Moulin Rouge fantasy to live out, this is the place to do it – for that reason, it’s our top pick for going out for drinks and one of our favorite Seattle date ideas too!
7. Central Cinema
Showing classic and cult movies, the Central Cinema has long been a Seattle date night institution. If you’re still unfamiliar with it, Central Cinema offers at-seat dining; the classic ‘dinner and a movie’ date is a lot more efficient here! More than that though, it’s simply a great place for movie fans to bond over their favorite guilty pleasures – sing-a-longs and even quote-a-longs are regular features on the program here.
Of course, movies aren’t the only thing on offer here. One of our favorite Seattle date ideas is heading to the Central Cinema on one of their trivia nights. We love quizzes – they’re a great way to unleash your inner nerd and be rewarded for it – and nowhere are they more frequent or fun than here. Think your date might be a film buff too? You might just make the perfect team…
Bonus Choice: Canlis
Canlis is about as obvious a choice as there is; it almost doesn’t count as a date idea – this one’s for the out-of-towners. Canlis is a wonderful place. Overlooking Lake Union, the restaurant is so revered by diners and critics alike, you can’t go wrong making a reservation here. If all of the other date ideas fail to impress, this won’t. It’s almost too safe a choice. But if your date really loves exquisite dining and fine wines – and if you met on EliteSingles, there’s a good chance they are – then book away. Any list of Seattle date ideas would be remiss without it.
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About the author: Michael Middleton
Michael Middleton is an editor for EliteSingles.